Sep. 5th, 2014

Pennsylvania (Gus/Shawn, Dwight, Jim/Pam | PG | 10,184 words): Gus and Shawn get hired to investigate a case at Dunder Mifflin. The weirdness of Shawn and Gus meeting the weirdness of the Dunder Mifflin employees is a thing of beauty. The story is hilarious and snappy, especially once Gus and Shawn get to Pennsylvania. And the Gus/Shawn tension is just perfect! Something that's present and important without being overly melodramatic or angst-ridden. And then the ending! The ending was built up to over the course of the story so wonderfully, and then it happened and it was squeefully delightful.

Excerpt:"My name is Gus," Gus says, dropping their bags at Shawn's feet. "And I am not his sidekick. I am his partner."

"Then why were you carrying his luggage?"

Shawn steeples his fingers together. "My psychic abilities give me a somewhat delicate constitution, due to being so closely connected to the astral plane."

"And he forgot them," Gus says, kicking Shawn's bags closer to him.

Dwight gives Gus a sharp, disapproving look that reminds Gus that they are in some warped kind of service profession. "But that's why I'm here," Gus says, forcing a smile on his face. "I keep Shawn grounded, if you will, in the day-to-day realities of life."